Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Found Guilty Of Corruption Charges

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was found guilty of seven corruption charges in relation to kickback schemes, and now faces up to 130 years in prison.

A jury found the 71-year-old guilty of all seven charges against him on Nov. 30, reports NY Daily News. He is currently released on bail.

“Today, Sheldon Silver got justice, and at long last, so did the people of New York,” Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.

The jury, consisting of four men and eight women, reached their decision after two and a half days of deliberations.

The federal corruption charges stemmed from incidents of honest services fraud, extortion and money laundering. Silver reportedly obtained nearly $4 million in exchange for using his power to help benefit a cancer researcher as well as two real estate developers, reports The New York Times.

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“Today, justice was served. Corruption was discovered, investigated and prosecuted, and the jury has spoken,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said following the verdict.

“With the allegations proven, it is time for the Legislature to take seriously the need for reform. There will be zero tolerance for the violation of the public trust in New York.”